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40 Expensive Mistakes You Don’t Realize You’re Making In An Average Day

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by Cristina Sanza
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

When it comes to everyday expenses, the little things definitely add up over time. For example, stopping for a cold brew, breakfast sandwich, or takeout lunch every day can quietly make a dent in your budget — and those are just the food-related expenses. Thankfully, Amazon has lots of products that’ll solve those expensive mistakes you’re making on an average day, and they’re all super easy to incorporate into your life.

So, what kind of helpful things will you find on this list? A lot of items will help you cut costs around the house, like energy-saving light bulbs, surge protectors, and draft stoppers. There are also ways to make cleaning easier, which can keep your home and appliances running smoothly and save you from having to spend on repairs. Think: A powerful drain cleaner that clears clogs, a brush that removes lint from the dryer vent, and a nonstick oven liner that catches drips and spills before they become baked onto your stove.

I’ve also included replacements for single-use items, such as reusable paper towels and makeup remover pads. Best of all, each of the products below is affordable, so you won’t have to spend a lot now to save in the long run.

If you’re ready to fix the simple mistakes that are costing you money every day, keep scrolling.

1Mistake: Calling The Plumber For Pricy Drain Repairs

Solution: A Powerful Drain Cleaner That Can Quickly Remove Clogs

There’s no need to call in a plumber when your drains get backed up — just use this powerful clog remover instead. The formula can quickly dissolve hair, soap scum, and more, and it’s safe to use in pipes, toilets, bathtubs, and shower drains. Plus, each bottle contains two pre-measured applications, so it’s super easy to use.

2Mistake: Gliding Your Chairs Across The Floor & Causing Scratches

Solution: These Furniture Leg Covers That Protect Your Hardwood Floors

Prevent chairs and tables from scratching up your expensive hardwood floor with these furniture leg covers. Available in small, medium, and large sizes, the covers slide easily onto furniture legs and have felt bottoms to protect the floor from damage. Choose from seven colors, including transparent, dark walnut, and black.

3Mistake: Taking Your Pup To The Groomer & Dropping Tons Of Cash

Solution: A Gentle But Effective Grooming Brush That Also Self Cleans

There are any number of reasons you may not want to deal with the task of brushing out your dogs or cats fur at home, like the hassle of getting all the excess fur out of the brush bristles for one. This self-cleaning dog brush is the literal answer to that annoying problem. With its easy to push button, all of the dead hair stuck in the bristles will come free for you to toss in the trash. The 5.75 inch bristles make this brush ideal for dogs and cats with long or short hair.

4Mistake: Constantly Running Out Of Disposable Paper Towels

Solution: These Reusable Bamboo Towels That Are Highly Absorbent

Instead of buying paper towel rolls, you can save money and cut down on single-use waste with these reusable bamboo towels. Each roll comes with 20 perforated sheets of highly absorbent and durable bamboo towels, and every sheet is washable and reusable up to 120 times. Choose from packs of one, two, and four.

5Mistake: Letting Leftovers Go Bad In Open Containers

Solution: This Leakproof Container Set That Keeps Leftovers Fresh

Don’t let your leftovers go to waste — instead, keep them fresh with this leakproof food storage set. The durable plastic containers are BPA-free and resistant to stains and odors, and there are built-in vents so you can avoid splatter when microwaving your meal. Plus, the stackable containers are freezer- and dishwasher-safe.

6Mistake: Leaving Your Produce On Bare Fridge Shelves

Solution: These Liners That Help Keep Produce Fresh For Longer

Prolong the life of your produce with these foam fridge liners. They’re easy to trim to fit your produce drawers, and they allow air to circulate to prevent spoiling, giving you more time to use all your fresh fruits and veggies before they go bad. Each pack contains four liners.

7Mistake: Constantly Replacing Your Light Bulbs & Paying Expensive Bills

Solution: The LED Bulbs That’ll Help Lower Your Energy Cost

Replacing all of your incandescent bulbs with these LED light bulbs can save money on your energy bill — and since each bulb lasts around nine years, you won’t have to change them very often, either. You can choose from several styles and colors, including daylight deluxe and soft white, in packs of four and six.

8Mistake: Buying Cold Brew At The Cafe Every Morning

Solution: A Cold Brew Coffee Maker That’s So Easy To Use

Rather than spending money every day at the coffee shop, you can make your own smooth, delicious blend with this cold brew coffee maker. Just add your favorite ground coffee beans to the stainless steel filter, fill the pitcher with water, and let it brew in the fridge. Choose from 1-liter and 1.5-liter sizes.

9Mistake: Throwing Away & Buying New Makeup Remover Pads Constantly

Solution: These Eco-Friendly Makeup Remover Pads That Are Reusable

Ditch disposable cotton rounds in favor of these reusable makeup remover pads. They’re made from 100% organic bamboo cotton that’s soft and gentle on the skin, and they come with a convenient storage container and mesh laundry bag, so washing is a breeze. Each pack contains 20 pads.

10Mistake: Losing Heat & AC Through The Door Draft

Solution: The Door Draft Stopper That Instantly Adds Insulation

If there’s a gap under your door, you could be letting precious heat and air conditioning escape — but this door draft stopper provides an easy fix. The adhesive draft stopper is made from flexible silicone that can be trimmed to fit your door, so it instantly adds insulation and blocks noise and light as well. Choose from four colors: black, brown, gray, and white.

11Mistake: Not Protecting Your Pricy Mattress From Stains

Solution: This Bamboo Mattress Pad That’s Waterproof & Cooling

You get double the versatility with this ultra-plush bamboo mattress pad. Not only does the incredibly soft microfiber bamboo give the cover a cooling effect, but it also acts as a protective layer for your mattress to shield it from stains and liquids. Unlike other fitted sheets, this mattress pad’s deep corners ensure it will stay perfectly secure even while you’re fast asleep.

  • Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

12Mistake: Letting Your Expensive Rugs Slip & Slide Around The House

Solution: These Grippers That Help Rugs Stay In Place

Prevent rugs from curling and slipping with these adhesive rug grippers. Sold in packs of four and eight, the square grippers are easy to place on each corner of the rug so it has a better hold on the floor. Best of all, you can leave the grippers on if you need to wash the rug.

13Mistake: Buying Disposable Fabric Softeners On The Regular

Solution: The Wool Dryer Balls That Leave Laundry Soft & Fluffy

Instead of buying fabric softeners and dryer sheets, you can use these eco-friendly wool dryer balls to get your laundry soft and fluffy. The extra-large dryer balls are made from 100% New Zealand wool, and they gently tumble around with your laundry to reduce wrinkles and speed up drying time. Each pack contains six.

14Mistake: Buying Fruit-Infused Water By The Bottle

Solution: An Infusion Pitcher For Flavored Water & Iced Tea

Drinking plain water can get a little boring, but rather than spending money on flavored drinks, you can make your own fruit-infused beverages with this flavor pitcher. The BPA-free pitcher features a removable infusion filter where you can add your favorite fruit, citrus, and herbs to make refreshing water and iced tea.

15Mistake: Buying Expensive Lighting For Video Calls & Photoshoots

Solution: A Selfie Ring Light That’s Compatible With Your Phone, Laptop & More

Struggling to find the perfect lighting for a video, photoshoot, or Zoom call will never be an issue for you again thanks to this selfie ring light. With its 10 lighting modes, such as daytime, warm, and white light, you will always be sure to perfectly highlight yourself. You can also use it hands-free by clipping it to the edge of your laptop or phone.

16Mistake: Turning Up The AC & Spending Tons Of Cash On The Electric Bill

Solution: A Personal Fan That’s Super Portable

Before you turn up the AC, you can cool down with this personal fan. It’s super portable and has a folding handle, so you can stand it up or hang it, and you can feel air circulate up to 3 feet away. The energy-saving fan is powered by USB or four AA batteries (sold separately).

17Mistake: Letting Cold Air Breeze Right Into Your House

Solution: This Tape That Seals Drafty Windows

Want to keep your place warm without blasting the heat all winter? You can use this transparent weather sealing tape to cover cracks around interior windows and prevent cold air from creeping in. It’s an affordable solution that’s highly rated by reviewers, with one writing, “It was easy to apply by myself and I noticed an immediate difference with draftiness.”

18Mistake: Accidentally Scratching Pricy Wooden Furniture

Solution: The Furniture Repair Kit That Covers Nicks & Scratches

If there are nicks and scratches on your furniture, this repair kit offers an easy DIY fix. It includes touch-up markers and wax sticks in a range of colors, including walnut, oak, and mahogany, so you can find the best match for your furniture and draw right over the scratches.

19Mistake: Spending Cash On Floor-Cleaning Products

Solution: A Steam Mop That Cleans & Sanitizes With Water

There’s no need to buy cleaning products or disposable mop pads when you’ve got this Shark steam mop, which cleans and sanitizes using water. The lightweight and compact mop has an easy-to-fill water tank that heats up in about 30 seconds and comes with reusable microfiber pads, so washing the floor is easier than ever.

20Mistake: Letting Food Cake Onto The Walls Of Your Microwave

Solution: The Microwave Cleaner That Softens Stuck-On Food Gunk

Remove stuck-on food gunk with this microwave steam cleaner. All you have to do is add vinegar and water to the fill lines and microwave the clever cleaner for five minutes — it’ll release steam that helps soften food stains, so you can wipe them away with ease.

21Mistake: Allowing Food To Drip Through Your Oven Racks

Solution: A Nonstick Oven Liner That Catches Food Spills

With this nonstick oven liner, you don’t have to worry about food drips and spills getting baked onto the bottom of your stove. The durable BPA-free liner is heat-resistant up to 500 degrees and easily trims to fit your gas, electric, convection, or microwave oven. Choose from packs of one and two in black or copper.

22Mistake: Letting Debris Get Into The Crevices Of Your Devices

Solution: An Electronics Cleaner That Wipes Away Dust & Smudges

If your devices are covered in dust and smudges, you can get them looking like new with this double-sided electronics cleaner. It features a soft microfiber pad on one side to wipe smudged screens and a retractable brush on the other to sweep dust and crumbs off keyboards. And when you’re done, the compact tool is easy to stash away.

23Mistake: Accidentally Getting Dirt & Sand Into Your Phone Ports

Solution: This Kit That Keeps Your Phone’s Ports Clean

The ports on your phone can get dusty and dirty, even if you have a protective case — but this cleaning kit with port covers can help. The set comes with 10 anti-dust plugs to cover the lightning port, along with foam-tipped swabs and a nylon brush to remove dirt from hard-to-clean areas.

24Mistake: Tearing Your Delicates In The Washer

Solution: These Mesh Laundry Bags That’ll Protect Your Delicates

Want to keep your delicates as good as new? Protect them by washing and drying in these mesh laundry bags. The set includes breathable mesh bags in various sizes for your bras, lingerie, stockings, and other delicates, and each one has a durable zipper to keep items contained. Choose from white and polka dot styles in a range of size combinations.

25Mistake: Letting Hair Go Down The Drain & Cause Clogs

Solution: The Popular Drain Protector That Collects Hair Out Of Sight

Prevent hair from clogging your shower or tub with the highly rated TubShroom drain protector, which fits inside the drain and collects hair out of sight. The durable silicone protector works with any standard bathtub drain and it’s easy to clean as needed. Plus, you can choose from six colors, including gray, white, and orange.

26Mistake: Paying For Expensive Workout Classes

Solution: These Bodyweight Exercise Cards For At-Home Workouts

Instead of spending big bucks on a gym membership, you can work out at home with these bodyweight exercise cards. The set includes over 100 bodyweight exercises that are color-coded to target different muscle groups, and there are moves for every fitness level. You just shuffle the deck and follow along with the cards, so it’s a great way to work out without getting bored, and all you need is an exercise mat or soft surface.

27Mistake: Stopping To Buy A Phone Charger While On The Go

Solution: This Car Charger That Provides A Quick Surge Of Power To Your Phone

Never stress again when you’re out and about with a low phone battery when you have this nifty car charger adapter at hand. It has two slots that are compatible with a wide array of USB cables. And don’t be fooled by the size of this small power adapter; it's capable of charging your electronic devices up to four times quicker than your average charger.

28Mistake: Constantly Buying Disposable Plastic Water Bottles

Solution: These Glass Water Bottles That You Can Keep Reusing

Save yourself money in the long-run by investing in reusable glass water bottles, like this six-pack from Estilo. The bottles themselves are made from soda lime glass, which is a well known environmentally-friendly material. They each hold 16 ounces of liquid and come with screw on, stainless steel caps that securely seal each bottle.

29Mistake: Scratching The Floor Below Your Rolling Desk Chair

Solution: A Chair Mat That Helps Protects Hardwood Floors

With this chair mat, you can roll around in your office chair without damaging the hardwood floor. The durable PVC mat has a slightly textured top surface that provides traction while allowing your chair to glide smoothly, along with an anti-slip backing that helps the mat stay in place. Choose from six colors in various sizes.

30Mistake: Getting Stains On Your Pricy Sofa

Solution: This Stretchy Sofa Cover That Protects Against Pet Hair & Spills

Protect your couch from pet hair and spills with this stretch sofa cover. It’s made from durable and wrinkle-resistant polyester and spandex with a jacquard design, and the elastic bottom makes it super easy to place over the couch. There are three sizes available — medium, large, and extra-large — and 11 colors, including black, navy blue, and wine red.

31Mistake: Taking Your Pet To The Groomer For A Haircut

Solution: The Ultimate At-Home Grooming Kit Perfect For Any Pet

Professional meets functional in this all-inclusive pet grooming kit. You will have everything you need right at your fingertips to give your dog or cat an expert-looking haircut at home with ease. The cordless trimmer makes it super easy to maneuver the clippers however and wherever you need to reach. Plus, you get extra attachments and finishing tools to get the look you desire.

32Mistake: Using Standard Bed Pillows To Elevate Your Legs While You Rest

Solution: An Elevated Leg Pillow That Helps Relieves Soreness While Improving Circulation

Its never been easier to have proper spine alignment while lying down in bed than when you implement the use of this elevated foam top leg pillow. The wedge shape is designed to perfectly contour to the natural bend in your legs even while on your back, while the elevated section helps relieve pressure on the back and neck. Whenever your pillow needs a refresh, the foam top cover zips off and you can toss it in the washer for easy and quick cleaning.

33Mistake: Buying Takeout Lunch On A Daily Basis

Solution: The Bento Box Container That’ll Make You Want To Pack Lunch Every Day

Packing your own lunch is easy and fun thanks to this bento box container. It’s made from durable, BPA-free material and features three compartments so you can keep every part of your meal separate. The leakproof container is safe for the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher, and it comes with flatware that fits inside for portability. Choose from three colors: green, khaki, and transparent.

34Mistake: Leaving Leftover Beauty Products In The Bottle

Solution: These Flexible Spatulas That Reach Into Beauty Product Bottles

Can’t get that last bit of your favorite beauty product out of the bottle? These beauty spatulas are here to help. The set includes one large and one small spatula, and each one has a flexible silicone head and a long handle that reaches the bottom of bottles and jars. Plus, these spatulas are also great for getting every last drop out of food containers.

35Mistake: Accidentally Putting A Small Hole In The Wall While Decorating

Solution: An All-In-One Tool For Fixing Those Holes

Whether you’re moving out of an apartment or just want to fix holes in the wall before painting, this all-in-one repair tool makes the process so easy. The applicator tool features primer-enhanced spackle, a putty knife, and a sanding pad, so you can repair nail holes in no time.

36Mistake: Cleaning With Disposable Paper Towels That Run Out Easily

Solution: These Swedish Dishcloths That Are Reusable To Cut Down On Waste

Finding eco-friendly alternatives to some of the most commonly used household items shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. This 10-pack of reusable Swedish dish cloths is a great option to go with if you’ve been looking for ways to cut back on your paper towel use. They’re made from a blend of cellulose and cotton, making them super durable and absorbent.

37Mistake: Cleaning Your Floors With Disposable Mop Pads

Solution: These Microfiber Mop Pads That Deep-Clean A Variety Of Floor Surfaces

No matter the flooring in your home (vinyl, tile, hardwood, laminate, and more), these reusable microfiber mop pads will make your floors shine. The pads are designed with special dual-scrubbing ridges that get deep into crevices and cracks to ensure all dirt and grime gets wiped away. To clean them, toss them in the washer as opposed to having to use your hands to wring out a sopping wet mop.

38Mistake: Running Out Of Disposable Lighters

Solution: This Long Candle Lighter You Can Recharge With A USB Cord

The smart and thoughtful design of this extra long candle lighter will make it one of your favorite at-home appliances. You’ll never struggle to fit your hand inside a candle jar or accidentally burn yourself trying to light the wick when you make the switch to using this lighter. Whenever it’s running low on juice, simply plug it into the USB charger instead of having to deal with messy lighter fluid or butane to refill it.

39Mistake: Buying Tea In The Morning Instead Of Brewing It At Home

Solution: A Teapot That Has A Loose Leaf Diffuse Built Into The Lid

Fans of using loose leaf tea over prepared tea bags will love the convenience of this teapot with built-in infuser. Being able to directly steep your tea in the pot saves you time and energy when you want to make yourself a spot of tea and relax. Rest assured knowing the infuser won’t rust or corrode no matter how often you use this teapot.

40Mistake: Constantly Moving The Hose Around The Yard

Solution: This Flexi Hose Connector That Gives You 2 Spigots Instead of 1

There’s more than meets the eye with this two-way garden hose connector. Yes, you obviously have the ability to now have two water sources coming from the same original source, but additionally, you can control both of those water sources individually for your convenience. Use this two-for-one spigot to source water to a sprinkler and hose all at once.

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